ROME, Ga. – Phil Taylor scored 40 points, and Eric Ross recorded a double-double, but the Hawks came up short in the final seconds, falling to the North Alabama Lions, 87-86.

Shorter falls to 10-7 overall and 4-7 in Gulf South Conference games, while North Alabama improves to 9-7 and 5-6 in the GSC.

Over the first nine minutes, North Alabama built a seven-point, but Shorter erased the visitors advantage in under two minutes and took a two-point lead on a Ross dunk prior to the under-eight media timeout.

After the Hawks briefly went ahead, the two teams traded the lead five times before the Lions extended their advantage to as many as 10 with only 1:17 until halftime.

Warren Helligar hit a three-pointer to cut the UNA advantage to seven, but a late Lions layup made it a nine-point game in their favor at halftime.

In the second half, North Alabama led by double-digits until eight minutes remained and Taylor took over. The senior scored 20 of Shorter's 22 points over a seven-minute span, and his three-pointer with 1:34 remaining in the game put the Hawks up three, 86-83.

SU was unable to keep the momentum in its favor as the Lions hit four consecutive free throws and led by one with just 48 seconds left.

Taylor had two attempts in the final seconds to give the Hawks the victory, including one as time expired, but both came up short and the Hawks fell, 87-86.

Taylor led all players with 40 points. This marks the fifth time this season that he has surpassed the 40-point mark. Prior to today, the last time Taylor scored 40 or more was in a January contest at West Georgia. Against the Wolves, Taylor scored 48 points in a 104-100 defeat.

Ross recorded his seventh straight double-double, scoring 12 points and collecting 18 rebounds.

Tavaris Tolliver led the Lions with 23 points and Johnell Ginnie scored 20.

North Alabama shot 48% from the floor, compared to only 43% for Shorter. The Lions outrebounded the Hawks, 42-35.

Shorter will return to action on Thursday, playing the second game of five straight at the Winthrop-King Centre, when Christian Brothers visits Rome. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.